It's a one off game. ANYTHING can happen. No true wire fan is expecting an easy win.

I said before your game with Hudds on the Wire board that i fear playing Leeds, they have a big game in them waiting to come out, i'm just hoping it isn't against us.

I don't think Leeds will win, but either way this is the season-defining game. If we get beaten then we'll have to look at how badly we've done all year until the last month or so.

Even our run of 'form' over the last ten games has consisted of playing really poor sides with the exception of Wigan at Wembley (I'm definitely of the view that Hudds ran out of steam some time ago).

In fact our run to Wembley and our 'run' to get to play Wire have been the easiest possible routes. Whilst its true to a degree that you can only 'beat what's in front of you', we really have played some poor rugby this year and have not done enough yet for this to be qualified as in any way a good season.

If we win then I'll admit we've had a good season, win or lose the GF. Otherwise I'm very much of the view that we've been aided by good fortune as much as anything else.

I wouldn't worry about Leeds too much. They've produced big games (relatively speaking) against Wigan on 3 occasions and it's not been enough. Defence is not up to scratch, still too much indiscipline and it's an ageing, weary squad with a fair number of players struggling on their last career legs.

I'd worry about Warrington instead. They've had it way too easy of late, they've not been tested for a while (not since the CC QF loss against Wigan) and it's possible that over-confidence might have set in. I'd be very interested to see how they will react if Leeds did manage to get out of the blocks quickly with a couple of early tries and built up an early lead of say 10 to 12 points? That's the only negative I can envisage as I still expect them to beat Leeds on Friday without too many worries.

Winning it from 5th ... I can see the letters from the assorted muppets and know-nowts in League Express already.

On the other hand, given that under a play off system of some sort, the RFL has merely reverted to the traditional system of selecting its champions that has done for around 75% of all champion teams crowned during the history of our sport.

In 1973, Dewsbury beat Leeds in the Championship (Grand) Final to win it from 8th ....

Whether he is trolling or not I fear Jeff is correct. All things point to a significant Wire win but that is the beauty of sport I suppose, you never know.

Don't know who Jeff is but if you're referring to Keith (me) then I've called it all season as I've seen it based on evidence of performances, a squad in decline and a dollop of gut instinct... Leeds not making the Top 4, Leeds making the CC Final (given an easy draw against the likes of Crusaders, Quins, Hull and Cas) and then losing in the CC Final against real (superior) opposition, and I've called the play off games against Hull and Huddersfield as wins too with a defeat against real (superior) opposition again. I've seen no evidence recently to make me change my mind.

Someone used Salford at the HJ as an example and i'm not trundling back to quote it but you do realise that was 2 days after the Exiles game in which we had the majority of the team backing up and 'in camp' for the whole week previous.

2007 I knew we were going to beat saints,we lost 10-8 at KR ,but t was STs who walked off the more worried.In 2008 I thought Saints would win ,but our team proved the were a great side,2009 I thought we would win,it was very tense ,but the boys once again demonstrated what a fine team they were.They are that bit older now ,but they have been there and done it ,when they have their talk amongst themselves like JP mentioned in his book it seemed to work.I dont fancy us again like in 2008 ,but I'm not going bet against us.

It wouldn't be worth it as the odds are crap betting against Leeds.

Warrington are only paying 2/9 on Friday. One bookies odds are an even skinnier 1/6.

That was the last time Warrington were 1st in the table...

when I said bet it was meant as I wouldnt be surprise if we won.I dont gamble on anything stupid thing to do with a persons money ,couldnt careless bout betting odds

Hudds season ended when Luke O'Donnell got injured - one man team.

Leeds can win on Friday, regardless of what the form book, or statistics say.

I don't think Leeds are solid enough defensively to stop Warrington scoring points. That's the main issue we have to deal with. If it's tight then we have enough players used to such situations to possibly get us past them (a bit like the CC win against Wigan last year in the downpour), but I don't think Warrington will allow us to get close. I think they'll be relaxed and confident and too much for us in the first half.
But I'll have everything crossed and hoping the boys can do it - like I'm sure everyone is. Really.